Project "BumbleBee"

[KrazyKevin]

After seeing the pictures again, I almost feel like I'm going backwards. I know at the end I'll be blad I took him down to the frame, but man, I'm getting overwhelmed. I'v got so many ideas in my head I need to start writing them down. Everytime I jump on the forum I see what some other member has done to their ride and say to myself "thats exactly what I wanna do."

I've got to stay focused. Monday or Tuesday, my dad and I are gonna pull the cab. Then the work starts. I'm gonna try to powerwash some more of the front end. But that stuff is thick. Looks like I got a lot of scraping and cleaning to do. I hit it with a powerwasher before I pulled the motor and that junk hardly budged. If anything, I do have some time. So hopefully I'll have it ready to be atleast primed right after Thanksgiving. If we can get some good crisp days. Its been awefully dreary lately. I'm ready for spring!!!!!!!!!!!

[Zylone]

I am at about the same stage as you on my project truck. I tackled the front first and it was NASTY! It was about an inch thick in some places. I pressure washed it, which didn't do a whole heck of a lot, then spent hours scraping and then a heavy coat of oven cleaner. I basically used that process over and over. It is well worth it though!

[KrazyKevin]

Finally got the cab seperated from the frame. Really feels like I'm going backwards now. Looks like a lot of elbow grease to get this thing clean.

Cam Phone Pics







I guess now its time for all the decisions to start being made. Still got sheetmetal work to do, but the cab and frame is at the parents house. So, I took some time to clean up my garage. I found all kinds of tools I'd thought I'd lost.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Looks like your moving right along....

[KrazyKevin]

My mom found a few pics that were taken a long time ago. Early 80's. These are two trucks my dad put together when he was my age, early/mid 30's. This is what keeps me going. It's nice to have someone to call when you get in a bind!!!

I'm not positive, but I think one is a 55-57, and the other is a 62, I believe. I know yall will let me know if I'm wrong! A neighbor had bought the 56? truck from the guy my dad sold it to. So dad had to get a few pics of them together.











He built the mid late 50's truck first and sold it. I can tell it still bothers him till this day. Then he put the 62 together. He said it was a joy to drive. He really put the time into the little stuff on the 62 to make it a nice driver.

[Hottrucks]

spray the frame with some oven cleaner a couple time ..it will be clean and ready for paint anther great product is Castrol Super clean..get it at walmart spray it on and let it sit as long as you can stand it then let it have it..again..clean..looks good and when its clean it will go back together pretty quick..just rememebr to paint the bottom of the cab and bed...lol

[KrazyKevin]

Just a quick update before bed: other than the engine, I don't think I can take this thing down any further. Whole front end is apart, ball joints are pressed out, a arms are cleaned the best I can get them, rest of frame is 95% clean and sanded. I sandblasted the upper and lower a arms and just a few little spots on the frame that needed it. For the most part, the frame is excellent. I think I'm gonna take the rear end back off and haul the frame back to my dads house to lift it up so I can clean/sand the bottom and get a better coating on the bottom.

Sorry no pics, I'll have some soon.

[tremman78]

its tough, but keep at it, if you need help and can supply lonestar light pm me. lol. i just got done with all the suspension and brakes on mine, now on to shorten the frame and bed.

[hotrod 80]

If your going automatic now is a good time to remove that crossmember . You cant get to those rivets with the cab on .

[KrazyKevin]

Thanks for the tip Hotrod, crossmember removed!!!

[KrazyKevin]

Gonna step back a few days, I have a few pics of the rear end pieces being painted. Springs, spring mounting hardware, trailing arms, and rear axel:

[KrazyKevin]

Finally got the rear end painted and back together. Then realized that I need to do the whole thing. So off came the rest of the front end. Again most of these pics or for furture reference for myself:

[KrazyKevin]

After I tore most of the front end out, I took the truck to my parents. There my dad and I took the cab off. After a little powerwashing, I brought the frame back to my house. Frome there, I started a front end tear down and cleaning:

[KrazyKevin]

With the front end apart and cleaned, I good coat of rustoleum primer for the frame and A arms. I sanded the whole frame down. I already had the rear 1/3rd primed, so after the fresh primer I have about 2/3rds of the frame to sand down tomorrow or the next few days. Then a couple of coats of rustoleum gloss black should finish off the frame.